Maybe

I don't know.

Can you repeat the question?

Yeah, I know he's not capable of competing for #1 or taking slams, but neither is 99% of the tour. I think it would be great to see him playing again. Conservatively he would be top 75 and top 25 is not out of the question. I think the ATP should encourage these legends to come out of retirement by offering a shortened schedule to those 40+.

He would get his arse handed to him at this age. Seriously, even with that serve he'd be much slower than he was and the current court conditions have turned half the years into effectively French Open scenarios from Sampras' perspective.

He would get his arse handed to him at this age. Seriously, even with that serve he'd be much slower than he was and the current court conditions have turned half the years into effectively French Open scenarios from Sampras' perspective.

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I don't know. If Sampras got himself into serious shape and practiced hard for 4-6 months, I think he could do a little damage.

A few years ago Sampras was able to match "GOAT" Federer in some serious exhibitions, and that after a five years pause...

Federer is not used to meet a first class serve and volleyer.

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Exhibitions are by definition not serious competitive matches. No serious tennis analyst cinsiders them to be a reliable indicator of what would happen if the players were to meet in a tournament

If I remember correctly, Federer beat "a first class serve and volleyer" in the Wimbledon quarter finals of 2001, played on fast grass when he was 19 and that player was 29 years old - younger than Federer's current age. I wonder who that player was.

Why not for certain events that were shorter in format. Pancho Gonzales beat the best in tennis at 40 years of age, like in the Vegas Open that was played later in the year after the major events had finished. Today there is plenty of money for the seniors to have special touring events so it would probably not be reality.

A few years ago Sampras was able to match "GOAT" Federer in some serious exhibitions, and that after a five years pause...

Federer is not used to meet a first class serve and volleyer.

Click to expand...

What I would love to see is some current serve volley tennis. Just put together an exo with Sampras, Edberg, Rafter and Becker and throw in some great returners like Agassi and Chang and it would be really different and exciting to watch ... especially if they played the older graphite or even wood rackets.

Why not for certain events that were shorter in format. Pancho Gonzales beat the best in tennis at 40 years of age, like in the Vegas Open that was played later in the year after the major events had finished. Today there is plenty of money for the seniors to have special touring events so it would probably not be reality.

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I doubt that Gonzalez played his best tennis at 40 even though he had spectacular wins against Laver, Rosewall, Newcombe, Roche and Ashe at 40 to 42. He just was such a genius that he could save much of his prime level into that old age.

No player ever was at his best at 40. In Pancho's time the prime of the top players was from about 25-30, more recently from 22 to 29.

I doubt that Gonzalez played his best tennis at 40 even though he had spectacular wins against Laver, Rosewall, Newcombe, Roche and Ashe at 40 to 42. He just was such a genius that he could save much of his prime level into that old age.

No player ever was at his best at 40. In Pancho's time the prime of the top players was from about 25-30, more recently from 22 to 29.

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Rosewall was greater ( and that is a lot) at 40 than Pancho himself.Tilden,Connors,Kramer,Bromwich,Sedgman,Ashe,Agassi,Gimeno and Laver are the other guys that, for a while could play as well as in their peak once they got over 35 or 36.

No way a 40+ years old can compete against the modern pro. Sampras can compete on the senior tour. Unless if he was playing in the 60s when it wasn't that competitive, then it's doable since Pancho can still compete despite well past his prime.

It would be just like when Michael Jordan came out of retirement and played for the Wizards. Except Sampras would have no younger teammates to rely on. He would win some matches sure. But his legacy would be altered a bit.

Yeah, I know he's not capable of competing for #1 or taking slams, but neither is 99% of the tour. I think it would be great to see him playing again. Conservatively he would be top 75 and top 25 is not out of the question. I think the ATP should encourage these legends to come out of retirement by offering a shortened schedule to those 40+.

He would get his arse handed to him at this age. Seriously, even with that serve he'd be much slower than he was and the current court conditions have turned half the years into effectively French Open scenarios from Sampras' perspective.